The common anecdote about buffalo running directly into a storm is largely accurate, though the animal is the American Bison. This distinctive behavior, involving turning toward and walking into the wind and heavy precipitation, is a genuine survival strategy. It represents a counterintuitive response to severe weather compared to most other large mammals on the North American plains.
The Instinctive Behavior of Bison
When a severe weather front, particularly a blizzard, approaches, the American Bison herd reorients itself to face the oncoming wind and snow. This action is not frantic flight but a deliberate, measured movement into the heart of the tempest. The herd moves forward, pushing against the storm’s direction of travel, rather than turning tail and moving with it. This instinct is observed during intense, expansive weather events common on the open plains.
The movement is a coordinated herd dynamic, driven by the instinct to minimize exposure. Rather than seeking refuge, the bison engage the storm directly, walking into the driving precipitation and wind. This forward motion is a key component of their survival strategy, focused on passing through the weather system as swiftly as possible.
The Efficiency of Facing the Storm
The primary reason bison move into the storm is to reduce the total time spent within the severe weather. By walking against the storm’s path, they maximize their velocity relative to the advancing front. For example, a bison moving westward through an eastward-moving storm passes through much faster than one moving eastward, which would remain trapped for a prolonged period. This strategy minimizes exposure to cold, wind, and blowing snow, which lead to exhaustion and hypothermia.
This behavior is supported by the bison’s physical adaptations, particularly its thick coat and body structure. The heaviest, shaggiest part of the coat is concentrated over its head, neck, and forequarters, offering superior insulation and protection against the head-on blast of winter weather. This dense fur is so effective that snow often fails to melt on its surface. Facing the wind allows the better-protected front of the animal to shield the vulnerable hindquarters.
Pushing into the storm is also an energy conservation method. Prolonged exposure to severe cold leads to massive energy expenditure as the animal tries to regulate its body temperature. By passing through the storm quickly, the bison shortens the duration of this high-energy demand, which is crucial when forage is scarce under deep snow. Their large heads and powerful shoulder muscles also allow them to use their heads like snowplows, sweeping away snow to access the grass beneath.
Contrasting Bison and Cattle Responses
The bison’s strategy contrasts sharply with the typical response of domestic cattle. Cattle, when faced with a blizzard or strong winds, instinctively turn their backs to the storm and drift away with the wind. They attempt to escape discomfort by moving with the flow of the weather.
This flight response results in cattle remaining within the storm system for an extended duration, as they move at the same speed and direction as the front. This prolonged exposure leads to exhaustion and a higher risk of hypothermia and starvation. Cattle often continue to drift until they hit a physical barrier, such as a fence line or ravine. At these barriers, they can pile up, leading to high mortality rates during severe winter storms.
The bison’s counterintuitive decision to face the hardship head-on is a direct result of millions of years of evolution on the open plains. This difference in behavior demonstrates the survival advantage of the bison’s proactive strategy over the reactive response of its domesticated bovine relatives.